Envelop-machine.



L. E. LABOMBARDE & M. H. SIDEBOTHAM.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1913.

mswm

Patented; Jan. 8, 1918.

SHEETSSHEETI L. E. LABOIVIBARDE & M. H. SIDEBOTHAM.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1913.

1 $533M. Patented Jan. 8, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- L. E. LABOIVIBARDE & M. H. SIDEBOTHAM.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. I913.

Patented Jan. 8,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3- V 16070 Jim .Worv 64 19 5;

L; E. LABOMBARDE & M. H. SIDEBOTHAM.

ENVELOP MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5 1913.

11,253,,QM. Patented Jan. 8,1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

O O o wiwase':

I and MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM, citizens of the uninrnn srn rns PATENT clarion.

anon E. LABOMBARDE AND MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM, or nAsHUA, NEW-HAMPSHIBE,

.A-SSIGNORS TO ELIE W. LABOMBARDE, QF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

ENVELOP-MACHINE.

raaaoaa.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LEON E. LABOMBARDE United States, and residents of Nashua, in

the county of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new ,and useful Improvements in Envelop-Machines, of which the following "is a specificat1on.

This invention relates to the manufacture of folded paper receptacles, and has particular reference to the making of such receptacles in the form of what are usually called envelops, the specific shape made by the machine illustrated being vertically elongated and consequently similar to a paper bag having a top flap which may be folded down by hand after the receptacle has been filled.

One of the object's'of the invention is to provide a machine that will be continuous and rapld in its operation, there being no pause or hesitation in the travel of the blanks except at the moment when the direction of travel is changed, the machine employing only constantly and rapidly moving carriers which cause the blanks to travel by friction,

so that said blanks willpass through the machine and be folded without possibility of interferencewith each other at the transfer point. I

. Another object of the invention is to .pro-

vide means which will insure the accurate" L'etters Patent 960,348, were granted June 7, 1910, but with certain differences hereinafter explained, said two folding mechanisms being .at a right-angle to eaclrother with connecting intervening transfer mechanism,-which latter mechanism includes one of the principal features of our-present in vention.

Patented Jan. S, 1918.

Application filed June 5, 1913. Serial No. 771,848.

sary details, and also "omitting the delivery portion of the secondary folding mechanism, because it is practically a duplicate of the delivery end of the primary folding mechanlsm.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Flg. 4 1s an elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2.

Fig.5 is a detail sectional view of the feed mechanism which forwards to the secondary folding mechanism the blanks which have been partly folded by the primary folding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the machine shownin Fig. 3, looking from the I other side, Fig. 6 being on a somewhat larger scale. I

Fig. is a detail sectional View of one of the feed chains. v

Fig. 8 is a detail elevation. looking in the direction of the arrow 8, in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one of the pin-carrying brackets attached to the feed chains.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12, are detail views of a form of combing feed roll which may be employed.- i

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts in all of the views.

Difl'er'ent portions of the frame of the machine are indicated at 10, said framelhaving at one end (Figs. 1 and 3) an adjustable inclined table 11 for the blanks, which may be of any desired and practicable quality and thickness of paper. The table is pivoted at 12 to the frame and at 13 to the upper end of a strut or rod 14, the lower end of which is slidably clamped in a sleeve 15 pivoted at 16. A pile. of blanks a placed on the table.

will be fed one at a time by mechanism practically the same as in U. S. Patent 540,131, granted May 28, 1895,. to Allen, said mechanism comprising one or more wheels 17 secured to a continuously operating shaft '18, each wheel having a section of friction material 19, such as rubber, to draw oil and feed the top blank of the pile, the blanks below the top one having their front edges in contact with one or more retarding devices such as sectionsof rubber 20 carried by hinged members 21 adjustable by screws 22.

Each blank as it is fed by the wheels 17 is deposited upon forwarding tapes or belts 23 running on elongated rolls or shafts 24, 25. Instead of the tapes or belts 23 being traveling belts, they might be stationary, if of frictionless material such as smooth metal. When blanks of very thin material are being fed through the machine, it may be preferable to have the supports such as the belts 23 move. Since the blanks, however, are really fed by the chains 26, and pins hereinafter described, the only particular essential is that the blank shall be supported on a surface so that they will be fed along by the chain pins. The chains are mounted u on sprockets 29 carried by shafts 27, 28, ?see Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7). Further description of the operation of the chains and their pins will be given hereinafter. Each blank advanced by the chain pins passes between shafts 31, having male and female scoring rolls 32, adjustably secured lengthwise of said shafts, to crease the blank on lines such their shafts. The wide flaps a of the blank project beyond the carriers, and as it passes along, theunder surface of one flap, near its edge, receives a stripe of an adhesive from a glue wheel 35. Next, the 'flaps a are turned upwardly on their score lines a by inclined or twisted folders 36, which, al-

though adjustable, are preferably rigid. For convenience of distinguishing description they are referred to hereinafter as rigid folders. The upturned flaps are next folded inwardly, one over the other (the one having the stripe of adhesive being folded, of course, in advance of the other) by twist belts 37. Suitable shoes or pressing devices are employed to insure the proper advance of the blank, without twisting, while passing from upper belts 33 to the point wherethe portions of the twisted belts 37 will grip the infolded edges of the blank between them and the lower'car rier belts 34. Edge guides also may be. employed. The details of the carrying, folding and guiding devices need not be illustrated or further described herein, as they are disclosed and as in the said patent. The blank next passes on to a series of tapes 43 mounted upon pulleys carried by shafts 44, 45, (see Figs. 2, 4, and 6), said blanks being carried y the tapes against the stop plate 46. To prevent the blanks from rebounding when they contact with the stop 46, we provide a series of spring-holders 40, secured to a transverse rod 41, which is suitably supported so that the inclined ends of the spr1ng-holdcrs40 will be held in position to lightly bear upon the edge of each blank coming in contact with the stop 46. Each blank that is delivered by the primary folding mechanism on to the tapes 43, reaches position against the stop 46, with one edge in contact With a guide 42, the position of the blank being indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, in the position which it momentarily occupies when arrested, one folded edge being in the position indicated in Fig. 5, to be grasped between the transfer starters 47 and a roll 48 (Figs. 2 and 5), and started in their new direction of movement by a drawing or pulling action. The starters 47 are carried by a rotary shaft 49 and have their ends formed or provided with segments having friction material facings or pins, or both, to engage the upper surface of the folded edges of the blank projecting from the tapes, said starters being timed as to their operation so as to engage said blank the instant of or after its arrival in arrested position and start it in its new direction of travel indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2. To enable the starters to be accurately timed as mentioned, they are adjustable on the shaftf49, As shown in Fig. 2, the hub of eachstartcr 47 has a set screw passed through'it. lflThis set screw binds against shaft 49, "Ther'cfore, either starter may be secured in anyfdeslred posi- 1011, longitudinally of the shaft. according to the size of the blanks, or rot atively on the shaft so that one may cooperate with roll 48 (Fig. '5) in advance of the other'whefn I such adjustment is necessary to insu're' fori j warding of the blanks without liability of being turned askew. These starters 47 act only for a moment, to introduce the blanks between rolls 55 and the carrier belts, and

then leave the blanks. Therefore no special care need be exercised regarding the speed If pushing devices were The starting devices are in operative engagement with each blank, for a distance of travel of the blank that is but a fraction of the distance of movement imparted to the blank bv the said short belts which constitute mechanism independent of said starting devices for delivering to the secondary folding mechanism those blanks which are set in motion by said starting devices. The transfer starters 47 are so located in positions lengthwise of their revolving shaft as not to contact with any pulleys or rolls.

To insure uniform peripheral speed of the transfer starting members, the shaft 49 is provided with a gear 52 meshing with a pinion 53 of roll 48. To guide the blanks to the roll 48, one or more of the belts 62 extends closer to said roll than the others,

such extension being indicated at 54 in Fig. 2, mounted on a roll on a shaft 55 (Fig. 5). Of course, the companion belt 63 is similarly extended, as shown in Fig. 5

Each blank pulled away in the new direc- A tion 1s acted upon by mechanism similar to that which delivered it to the transfer mechanism, to fold over the remaining flaps a a, which constitute the bottom and top end flaps respectively, of the bag-shaped envelop, but with a difference that the adhesive for flap a is applied to the upper surface, instead of the under surface, asthe blank travels. The blank in the partially folded condition is started by the transfer members 47, 48, betweenmale and female scoring rolls 59 carried by shafts 60, and between upper and lower carrier belts 62, 63, mounted'at one end upon pulleys 56,

carried by shafts 57, said shafts being geared to rotate in unisoen, as by the intermeshing gears 58. The carrier belts 62, 63, forward the partially folded blanks through secondary folding mechanism, including rigid inclines 67 and twisted folders, the complete secondary folding mechanism not being illustrated herein, as it includes twisted folding belts and other parts similar to the portions of the primary folding mecha-' nism illustrated herein, and also similar to the machine of the said Letters Patent 960,348. As the blank moves along between carrier belts 62, 63, its flap a receives a stripe of adhesive on its upper surface, from a roll or disk 68, carried by a suitable shaft. As the adhesive-applying mechanism is not claimed herein, further reference thereto is unnecessary. The flaps a, a, (Fig. 1), projecting outside of the nip of carrier belts 62, 63, are turned upwardly along the score lines a by the inclined rigid folders 67 which are similar in construction and operation to the rigid folders 36 of the primary folding mechanism. If it should not be desired to fold the flap a*, one rigid incline 67 and one twist belt may be omitted.

It is to be understood that the machine is capable of making envelops of various shapes and sizes other than the one illustrated. The different parts are adjustable for different sizes, the width of the folding members apart being varied by screw adj ust- .ments such as shown in Fig. 14, of the Patent 960,348. L

The machine may be driven by a belt capable of being shifted from one to the other of the fast and loose pulleys 69, 70, (Fig. 4).

The various shafts and gearing for transmitting motion from the shaft of pulleys '69, 70, to the different mechanisms of the complete machine are indicated in the drawings, but will not need to be described, as we do not claim herein any particular means for carrying motion from one part of the machine to another. The connections are such, of course, that the various coacting carrying members all move with the same rate of speed, to cause the blanks to travel rapidly, evenly and continuously, the only pause being when they reach stop 46. The rate at which the primary feeders 19 cause the blanks to follow one another from the pile on the table is such that there Will be sufficient space between the blanks reaching the transfer mechanism to prevent a partially folded blank from so overlapping the preceding one as to interfere with the said preceding one being drawn away by the transfer feeders 47.

By means of any suitable speed change mechanism, or change speedigears, the primary and secondary feeders may be varied as to their speed of action, according to the sizes of the blanks to be folded, in order to secure proper spacing between them. In practice, the carriers of the secondary fold ing mechanism preferably travel at less speed than those of the primary folding mechanism. This is because the articles going through the secondary mechanism are smaller (in the direction of travel), due to their being partially folded by the primary mechanism. As there is no need then for any greater spacing'between blanks in the secondary than in the primary, the secondary can operate at the lower speed mentioned, and ro reduce wear and tear of its parts, and also to avoid delivering the articles to the stacker or counter at an ex cessive speed.

As the material of which the envelops are made is quite thin, we have produced a feed or comb wheel 17 especially adapted for thin work, although it is also very desirable for thick work. -For thick or thin blanks, it provides for preventing the passage of more than one blank at a time, and also provides for adjustment to take up wear of the friction surface, so that, when rubber is used,

the roll can be used until the facing is Worn almost through.

Referring to Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the

' (Fig. 3). Ihside the ring 19 are metal segments 73, the adjacent edges of the segments being beveled and slightly spaced, as shown in Fig. 12. Each segment is carried by a radially adjustable pin 74 (Fig. 10) having a cone-shaped inner end. Mounted slidably on the hub 75 of the wheel is a ring 76 having a series of projections 77 provided with beveled or cam faces. For convenience, these projections are referred to as cams. The wheel is formed with transverse apertures along which the cams can be adjusted by means of two or more screws 78 passing through the ring 76 into the body of the wheel, so that the cams 77 can be adjusted to force the pins 74 radially outward, increasing the diameter of the circle formed by the segments and stretching the ring 19 to compensate for wear.

In practice, the wheel 17 is so mounted I and the retard 20 so adjusted, that the space between the retard and the edges 72 of the feed wheel will permit but one blank at a time to pass, the retard being of material sufiiciently hard (as-relativelyhard rubber) to not yield and let the edge of a second blank enter the space. The ring 19 is ex panded just enough to project beyond the edges 72 and perform its combing or feeding action. As it wears, the ring is expanded, and this can be done until the ring is worn down to an eighth of an inch or less.

By removing all but one of the segments, the ring will project in but one place, the rest of the ring lying in the recess from which the segments are removed, thus providing an intermittently operating feeder which will comb off a blank only each time the projecting portion of the ring acts on the pile of blanks. Or only the .one remaining segment can be faced with rubber and such segment or its pin provided with means, as a set screw, for preventing it from escaping from the Wheel. In Figs. .10 and 11, such a set screw is'indicated at 79 for each pin 7-1.

Such set screws'are desirable to prevent the segments from dropping out when the ring 19 is removed, or if it should be worn down so as to break during the running of the machine. Such set screws will, 0' course, be loosened when the ring 76 and its cams are'to be adjusted. Whether one or all segments are used, there will be one or more edge portions 72 to constitutea gage to prevent the entry of a second blank between the wheel or segment and retard until the first has passed.

It will thus be seen that we have provided a feed wheel which is convertible so as to constitute an essential portion of timed feed mechanism, or straight top feed mechanism. If the yieldin peripheral portion of the wheel be cause to project in but one place, as indicated in Fig. 3, a blank will be taken from the top of the pile on the table only once for each rotation of the shaft of the combing wheel, the blanks then being sent through the machine being spaced according to the circumference of the combing wheels.

If the yielding peripheral portion be caused to project at two diametrically opposite places, then the combing wheels are adapted to operate on smaller blanks so as to remove two blanks from the pile for each rotation. If the yielding peripheral portion be presented uniformly, as shown in Fig. 11, then a feed of a blank will occur from the top of the pile wartime that a preceding blank is removedi In other words, the blanks will follow each other with thefront edge of one close behind the rear edge of the preceding one, this being known as the straight top feed, instead of a timed feed.

The table 11 is preferably provided with guides such as the flanges 80 (Figs. 1 and 3) rising from straps 81 which are adjustable laterally of the table and. held as by means of set. screws 82.

Suitably supported machine are uprights or posts 83 (Figs. 3, 6- and 7 having brackets 84: in which are mounted transverse rods 85, said rods having depending brackets 86 in which are mounted two longitudinal rods 87 (Fig. 1). Pendent brackets 88, adjustable along the by the frame of therods 87. provide bearings for the shaft 27 of'the feed chains. The shaft 28 may be similarly supported by brackets depending from red 85. This structure not only pro- 'vides for lateral adjustment of the feed chains, but also enables them to be accurately adjusted in a direction longitudinally of the .machine to enable the pins of the chains presently described to properly en gage each blank in the four reentrant angles presented by the edges of the flaps a, a a.

In Fig. 9, is shown a bracket 89 having a flange 90 provided with a slot 91 for the screw 93, the end of the screw projecting through the slot having secured thereto a cylindrical member 92, which for convenience of description, is referred to herein as a pin. Each chain 26 has secured to it at substantially equal distances along its length, four brackets 89, so that each chain will carry four pins 92. By means of the slots 91, the pins 92 can be adjusted in a direction lengthwise of the chain. The brackets 89 may be attached anywhere along the chain. This feature of our invention enables us to cause the four reentrant angles of each blank to be accurately engaged by four pins. Since each of the two chains has four pins, it provides, of course, for the two chains advancing'two separate blanks, one after the other,

' velops.

for each complete cycle of movement of the chains. The chains are of such length, and the relative locations of the pins 92, and the timing of the .feed of the blanks, bear such relationship to each-other, that the front edge of each blank arrives on the belts 23 just in time to touch, or almost touch the rear surfaces of two pins 92 carried by the two chains, so that two more pins 92 will engage the rear edge of the blank, as indicated in Fig. 7, so as to push the blank up against the first-mentioned two pins, if the blank was not deposited in just the right position to contact with the forward pins.

Fig. 7 illustrates two dotted line positions of a pin 92. This is merely to show how the pins 92 will pass down behind the rear edge,

of a forwardly moving blank. hen the rear edge of a blank is in the position indicated at a: in Fig. 7, the pins 92 will be substantially in the position it, and as the blank advances so that its rear edge is in the position 1 the pins 92 have reached the position g As the parts move to the full line position of Fig. 7, the pins engage the rear edge of the blank and push it up against the forward or front two pins, the result being that the blank is then firmly held at four points, and is started through between the scoring rolls and started into the primary folding mechanism, in perfectly squared position, without requiring any side guides or other means for causing them to enter the scoring or folding mechanism accurately. The feeds 19 so engage the blanks that they cannot start very much askew, but they are sometimes liable to be sufliciently twisted to interfere with the accurate production of en- But since the two rear pins straighten each blank up against the front two pins, and then carry the blanks forward, held in such manner that they cannot possibly turn, the machine can operate so as to advance the blanks very rapidly, because each blank is positively held at four points.

. To this end we provide the stops 46 and the guide 42. It is essential that each blank shall pass to its position against the stop 46, squarely up against the guide 42. To this end we provide a series of rolls 94, which, for convenience of description, are referred to as deflecting rolls. Each roll is carried by a shaft 95 supported by a bracket 96 adjustably connected to a rod 95 projecting from a block 97 in such manner that the axes of the rolls 94 may be adjusted, as indicated in Fig. 2, two of the rolls shown in Fig. 8 being also shown as adjusted in such manner that the-said rolls, which are idle ones, bearing upon the edge of the blank as it arrives upon the last tape 43, of the series, will be deflected against the guide 42 by said rolls 94. In other words, the idle pressure rolls 94 can be set at such an angle as to insure the blanks being defiected or directed squarely up against the guide rib or bar 42. The blocks 97 are carried by a rod 98, which is adjustably supported at its ends to enable the parts to be adjusted for different widths of blanks. The adjustments in practice, must be such that when each partly folded blank arrives and is squared up against the stop 46 and guide .42, the segments 47, which are properly timed as to their rotation, will then c011- tact with the folded edge opposite that edge which is against the uide 42, and pull the blank away to start 1t between the scoring rolls 59 and the secondary folding mechanism. It is to be understood, of course, that all of the parts to be adjusted for different sizes of blanks, are capable of being so positioned as to retain the proper relationship of the cooperating mechanisms, in all phases of adjustment.

As has been stated, the belts or tapes 23 serve as the support, so that the blanks will be accurately and squarely forwarded by the four pins of the two belts engaging the reentrant angles of the blanks. Obviously, instead of employing belts or tapes, we may employ a series of rolls, driven or idle. Or the blanks can be supported upon smooth stationary surfaces, the forwarding 0f the blanks being then caused by the chain pins, aided, if desired, by means of suitable rotary brushing devices, such devices being ro tated in a direction to contact with the upper surfaces of the blanks and exerting friction thereon, to aid in advancing or forwarding the blanks.

after each blank is started into the machine by the wheels 17 any suitable mechanism may be employed for insuring their being carried to position to be engaged by the pins 92 of the chains.

It is to be understood, of course, that the number of pins 92 carried by the chains 26, and their relative spacing along said chains, will be varied according to. the number of blanks. (such as one or two) fed by each rotation of theshaft 18, and according to the sizes of the blanks being treated.

.We claim:

1. A machine of the character specified, comprisin primary and secondary mechanisms for folding blanks on lines at an angle to each other, stops for arrestin the blanks after leaving the primary fol ing mechanism, starting dev ices movable in a direction toward the secondary foldin mechanism, and. independent mechanism or delivering to the said secondary mechanism blanks set in motion by the starting devices, said starting devices being in operative engagement with a blank for a distance that is but a fraction of the distance of movement imparted by said independent delivery mechanism.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising primary and secondary folding mechanisms at an angle to each other, an endless traveling platform for receiving the blanks from the primary mechanism, and

I rotary feeders adjacent that edge of said platform which is nearest the secondary folding mechanism, said feeders being in position to receive an edge portion of the blank as it is delivered to the platform by the primary folding mechanism.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising folding mechanism and means for delivering blanks thereto in accurate positions, said means comprising a support for the blanks, and endless pin-carriers having blank-engaging pins spaced to engage both front and rear edge portions of the blanks on said support.

4. A machine of the character described, comprising primary and secondary folding mechanisms at an angle to each other, and an intermediate transfer mechanism; each of the folding mechanisms having blank carriers, stationary folders for turning flap portions of the blanks upwardly, twist belt folders for turningsaid flap portions from upward to fiat in-turned position to complete the folding of said flap portions, and pressers between the stationary folders and the belt folders;

5. A machine of the character described, comprising primary" and secondary folding mechanisms at an angle to each other, and an intermediate transfer mechanism, each of the folding mechanisms havin blank carriers, blank scorers, stationary fo ders for turning fiap portions of the blanks upwardly, twist belt folders for turning said flap portions from upward to flat in-turned position to complete the folding of said flap portions, and pressers between the stationary folders and the belt folders.

6. A machine of the character described,

comprising folding mechanism, means for delivering blanks thereto in accurate position, said means comprising four traveling pins spaced to engage each blank at four separate points, and a timed feeder for supplying blanks accurately spaced to said traveling pins. 7. A machine of the character described, comprising primary and secondary folding mechanisms at an angle to each other, an intermediate transfer mechanism, a timed feeder for the primary mechanism to supply blanks spaced to prevent interference with each other at the transfer'mechanism, means for arresting each blank as it arrives at the transfer mechanism, and a pair of intermittently operating devices to start each arrested blank and pull it toward the secondary folding mechanism, said devices being independently adjustable laterally and also as to their relative time of operation.

8. A machine of the character described, comprising folding mechanism and means for delivering blanks thereto in accurate positions, said means comprising four traveling pins spaced to engage each blank at four separate points.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising folding mechanism, a support in advance of said folding mechanism, and means for delivering blanks over said support, said means comprising fourtraveling pins spaced to engage both front and rear edge portions of the blanks on'said support.

10. A machine of the character described comprising folding mechanism and means for delivering blanks thereto in accurate positions, said means comprising carriers having four pins spaced to engage each blank at four separate points, said pins being adjustably connected with their carriers to en able them to be adjusted lengthwise of the carriers.

11. A machine of the character described comprising folding mechanism and means for delivering blanks thereto in accurate positions, said means comprising carriers having four pins spaced to engage each blank at. four separate points, said pins being ad ustably connected with their carriers to enable them to be adjusted lengthwise of the carriers, the carriers being adjustable laterally for blanks of diflerent widths.

12. A machine of the character described, comprising folding mechanism and means for delivering blanks thereto in accurate positions, said means comprising a pair of endless pin carriers each having a plurality of, 10 blank engaging pins, the pins being spaced toiengage each blank at two points of the front edge and two points of the rear edge. In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures, in presence of two Witnesses.

LEON E. LABOMBARDE. MELVIN SIDEBOTHAM.

Witnesses:

A. W. HARRISON, P. W. PEzzETTI., 

